Feeder for tile-machines.



ST. JOHN MILLER.

FEEDER FOR TILE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1913.

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ST. JOHN MILLER. FEEDER FOR TILE MACHINES. APPLICATION IILED JUNE 2B, 1913.

1,093,714. Patented Apr. 21, 19m

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Witnesses Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

ST. JOHN MILLER, 0F PIONEER, OHIO.

FEEDER FOR TILE-MACHIN ES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ST. JOHN MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pioneer, in the county of l/Villiams and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Feeder for T ile-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains generally to automatic tile machines, and relates more particularly to an improved feeder therefor.

In prevailing automatic tile machines, the cement is delivered into a hopper from a chute, and from the hopper, the cement is worked into a jacket or mold, by means of a mechanically operated packer head. With these machines, it is necessary for the operator or attendant to feed the cement from the hopper into the jacket or mold, to get the best results, but as this requires additional labor, it is objectionable.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an automatic mechanical feeder for properly delivering the cement as it is discharged into the hopper, to the jacket or mold.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the nature indicated which shall be applicable to various tile machines, and which may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes or diameters of jackets or molds.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a device of the character indicated which shall be comparatively simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, as well as serviceable, convenient and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of an arbitrary or conventional type of automatic tile machine, parts being broken away, illustralting the present device applied thereto. Fig.

2 is an enlarged fragmental detail of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 28, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914:. Serial No. 776,407.

improved feeder, this view being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken :on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a reduced sectional view taken on the line fir-"4: of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, there is illustrated therein, a common type of an automatic tile machine. This machine includes a suitable frame 1 carrying a horizontal shaft 2 which is driven by any suitable prime mover, or source of power. The frame 1 carries a vertical reciprocatory and rotatory shaft 3, which is provided with a packer head 41 at its lower end. The shaft 3 is adapted to be reciprocated and rotated, the said shaft being rotated continuously during the rotation of the shaft 2, by means of a bevel gear 5 feathered upon the shaft 8 and intermeshing with a bevel gear 6 keyed upon the shaft 2. The bevel gear 5 is constrained from moving longitudinally, while the shaft 3 is slidable through the gear -5 to turn therewith. The shaft 3 is reciprocated at intervals, and to this end there is provided a horizontal countershaft 7 operatively connected with the shaft 2, the shaft 2 having a worm 8, while the shaft 7 is provided with a worm wheel 9 intermes'hing with the worm 8. The shaft 7 carries a cam 10 which is operatively engaged by one end of a walking beam or lever 11 fulcrumed upon the frame 1, the other end of the walking beam 11 being connected to the upper portion of the shaft 3 in such a manner as to permit the shaft to rotate, but to constrain the said shaft to move with the respective end of the walking beam 11. As the cam 10 rotates, the shaft 3 will be depressed and then raised, at certain intervals, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The machine further includes an elevator actuating shaft 12 carried by the upper end of the frame 1, and operatively connected with the shaft 2 by means of a chain 13. The shaft 12 actuates the elevator (not shown) which elevatesthe cement and delivers a suitable quantity or charge thereof into a chute 14, which delivers the cement into the hopper 15. A revolving or turn table 16 is carried by the frame 1, and is intermittently actuated by means which need not be illustrated. The turn table 16 is designed to carry a plurality of jackets or molds 16 which are successively brought under .the hopper 15. The hopper is pro vided with an opening :15 under which the j acket 16 is designed to stand when brought to position by the turn table.

The foregoing structure is common in automatic tile machines. and therefore need not be further described in detail. Such machines also embody other accessories for carrying out the principles desired, but as these accessories form no part of the present invention, they need not be illustrated or described.

The present invention relates particularly to a feeding device or mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 17, for roperly Working the cement or material f i'om the hopper 15 into the jacket or mold 16 The improved'feeding mechanism 17 embodies a ring 18, which has a plurality of depending bars or hangers 19 secured to its inner side, the lower ends of the bars or hangers 19 being provided with inwardly projecting feet 20, to the lower faces of which is bolted an annulus 21. The annulus is in the form of a sprocket wheel, or the like, to facilitate the actuation of the feeding mechanism, as will hereinafter be fully described. The ring 18 and annulus or sprocket wheel 21 are thus rigidly secured together in a spaced relation.

The space or opening between the ring 18 and the annulus 21 is closed by a plurality of arcuate or curved plates 22 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the inner side of the ring 18 so as to depend from the said ring with their lower edges engaging the annulus 21. The ends of the plates 22 engage the hangers 19, whereby the structure or frame provided by the ring 18, hangers 19, and annulus 21, will be closed about its sides.

The feeder frame comprising the ring 18, hangers 19 and annulus 21, is supported for rotation in a novel manner, and to this end there is employed an arcuate or curved bar 23, which extends over one half the circumference of the feeder frame, and which embraces the plates 22 and hangers 19 intermediate the ring 18 and annulus 21. The bar or supporting member 23 is preferably resilient in order that it may be snapped into and out of engagement with the feeder frame. The ring 18 is adapted to rest or seat upon the supporting member 23, keepers 24: being secured to the plates 22 to engage under the supporting member 23, and the hangers 19 being provided with projections 24 engaging under the supporting member. Thus, as the feeder frame rotates, suflicient of the keepers 24: and 24 will always engage under the supporting member 23 to prevent the feeder frame from being accidentally raised or displaced.

The feeder frame is supported above the hopper 15 of the tile machine, brackets 25 being bolted to the arcuate supporting member 23 and to the rim of the hopper 15 to rigidly connect the supporting member 23 to the hopper at a suitable position thereabove. The feeder frame is thus free to rotate above the hopper, and in fact, forms a continuation of the hopper into which the cement or ma terial is adapted to be discharged from the chute 14.

Two depending arms 26 are carried by the annulus or sprocket wheel 21, the said arms 26 being preferably formed from angular bars having one of their ends bolted to the annulus 21 adjoining its inner edge. A curved wing or paddle 27 is bolted to each of the depending arms 26, and extends inwardly, so that it may be said that the wings or paddles 27 are involute. The feeder frame is annular, and stands directly above the rim of the hopper 15, the feeder frame being of a diameter approximately the same as that of the hopper, while the wings or paddles 27 work within the hopper 15, the outer ends of the wings or paddles working adjoining the rim of the hopper, while the free ends of the wings or paddles are dis posed adjoining the opening 15 of the hop per. As illustrated, a pair of the wings or paddles 27 are employed, although it is to be understood that only a single wing or paddle need be employed, or more than two may be provided, if necessary or desirable.

As a means for actuating or rotating the feeder frame, a short upright shaft 28 is j ournaled to the frame 1 adjoining the hopper 15, and is provided with a sprocket wheel 29, a sprocket chain 30 being trained around the sprocket wheels 21 and 29, so as to pass under the respective brackets 20. A horizontal counter shaft 31 is journaled to the frame 1, and is operatively connected to the shaft 28, by means of intermeshing bevel gears 32 and 33 keyed to the respective ends of the shafts 28 and 31. The counter shaft 31 is operatively connected to the shaft 12 by means of a chain 3 1, so that it will be apparent that as the tile machine is in operation, the feeder frame will be rotated.

It is to be understood that various means may be provided for actuating the feeder frame, as may be found most expedient in various tile machines, although it is desirable to operate the feeder frame directly by means of a sprocket chain 30.

In operation, the empty molds 16 are placed on the turntable 16, and the turn table is intermittently actuated to bring the succeeding jackets under the hopper 15. The shaft 3 is raised during the positioning of the respective jacket 16 under the hopper, although the shaft 3 is continuously rotated. The shaft 3 is then depressed to move the packer head at into the jacket 16, this being accomplished through the medium of the cam 10 and walking beam 11., as will be clearly apparent. A suitable quantity of cement or other plastic material is then dumped into the chute 14 by the elevator (not shown) so that the charge of cement is delivered through the annular feeder frame into the hopper 15. Now, it will be manifest that as the feeder frame is rotated, the wings or paddles 21 are carried in a circular path with the hopper 15, their free ends trailing in rear of the depending arms 26, in order that the cement will be quickly and effectively worked to the opening 15, from whence it may drop into the jacket 16 In this manner, the cement is worked into the jacket from the hopper in a facile and expeditious manner, and without the assistance of a workman or laborer, as is now necessar The shaft 3 is then raised, so as to carry the packer head upwardly, which results in the packing of the cement against the walls of the jacket 16 to form a hollow tile, such as a drain tile, or the like. When the packer head 4: has been lifted into the hopper 15, or after the packer head has been retracted from the jacket, the turntable is moved one step, so as to withdraw the jacket which has been interiorly coated or packed, and in order to move the next succeeding empty jacket under the hopper for a new operation. The many advantages incident to such an automatic tile machine are clearly apparent to those skilled in the art, and need not be itemized at length herein. It may be stated, however, that the present feeding mechanism is highly desirable and efiicient in its use, and not only dispenses with the services of a laborer, but performs the feeding function in such a manner that the walls of the tile may be smoothly and evenly formed.

The present device may be readily applied to various automatic tile machines, and does not encumber the machine to which it is applied to any appreciable extent, nor does the application of the present device to a tile machine entail any great expense.

It is to be understood that the present device may be constructed in various sizes, according to the size or diameter of the tile that is formed by the machine, and it is to be further understood that various sizes of wings or paddles 27 may be interchangeably attachable to the arms 26, so as to direct the cement inwardly properly according to the severaldiameters of molds employed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with the hopper of a tile machine, an annular frame, an arcuate supporting member embracing the said frameand supporting the same for rotatory movement, brackets connecting the supporting member and hopper, a wing carried by the said frame and working within the hopper to feed the material through the open ing of the hopper, and means for actuating the said frame.

2. In combination with the hopper of a tile machine, a ring, hangers secured to the inner side thereof, an annular sprocket wheel secured to lower end of the hangers, a supporting member embracing the said hangers underneath the ring, brackets connecting the said supporting member and the hopper, a wing carried by the sprocket wheel and working within the hopper to feed to the material through the opening of the hopper, and means for actuating the sprocket wheel.

3. In combination with the hopper of a tile machine, a frame embodying a ring, hangers secured to the inner side thereof, and an annular sprocket wheel secured to the lower ends of the hangers, an arcuate supporting member embracing the said hangers underneath the ring, curved plates secured to the inner side of the ring intermediate the hangers and engaging the sprocket wheel, keepers carried by the said plates and hangers and engaging under the supporting member, brackets connecting the said supporting member and the hopper, a wing carried by the sprocket wheel working within the hopper to direct the material through the opening thereof, and means connected to the said sprocket wheel for rotating the said frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ST. J OI-IN MILLER.

Witnesses:

GUY J. LUTZ, D. H. CLAUnoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

